Charlie Egalie Tjapaltjarri

Charlie Egalie Tjapaltjarri was a respected Warlpiri/Luritja artist born around 1940 at Pikilyi (Vaughan Springs), northwest of Mount Liebig in the Northern Territory. He spent his early years living traditionally with his family near Kunatjarrayi, later receiving some Western education at a mission school in Yuendumu. Charlie was initiated at Haasts Bluff, maintaining strong ties to his ancestral lands throughout his life.

In 1972, Charlie began painting at Papunya under the mentorship of prominent artists such as Johnny Warangkula, Kaapa Tjampitjinpa, and Billy Stockman Tjapaltjarri. His artworks are deeply rooted in traditional Dreaming narratives, depicting themes like Budgerigar, Wallaby, Sugar Ant, Bushfire, and Men's ceremonies. These stories are intricately connected to sacred sites across the Western Desert region.

Charlie's painting "Budgerigar Dreaming" gained significant recognition, featuring on the cover of Nadine Amadio's book Wildbird Dreaming. He travelled to Sydney for the book's launch and represented Papunya Tula Artists at the National Gallery of Victoria's Face of the Centre exhibition in 1985.

His works are held in esteemed collections, including the National Museum of Australia, the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and the University of Western Australia's Anthropology Museum.